Stirling Dynamics has been awarded a new contract from WheelTug to deliver a new nose wheel design for the Boeing 737NG family of aircraft,which is powered by the aircraft’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), and aims to save time, engine life and fuel use resulting in reduced emissions and significant cost savings for aircraft operators. (www.stirling-dynamics.com) Mehr...

It's been tired before, I can't remember which airport it was. They had tugs towing aircraft to runway, where they would commence engine start and take over, and would meet air craft after landing and tow the arrival to the gate. the logistics and traffic management of all that turned into more trouble that it was worth.

Either way, an APU has to be running to power the aircraft. Can also imagine there are more than a few airports around the world that won't want aircraft swanning around just off the runway getting hooked up to a tug. And you would need more tugs, which have a capital and running/maintenance cost.

Maybe because Stirling Dynamics is crowing over the contract award. The contract was put out to bid some time ago, to which linbb may have been referring. Stirling is going to design, who is going to build?